United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
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Create Profile →Current conditions refresh every 3 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Porthtowan. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical early July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
The best week for surf at Porthtowan is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Moderate swell providing fun waves for a session. Short-period wind swell: expect weak, crumbly faces. Full onshore mess. Not worth the paddle unless you are desperate. Conditions improving through the afternoon.
Heads up: rip risk elevated, and jellyfish: high.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 75% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Significantly cleaner air than a typical city. Ideal for outdoor exercise with minimal respiratory strain.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NO₂ 5, O₃ 3, PM10 2, SO₂ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 21:00
Moderate water clarity: ~8m visibility
Updated 10:34
Local knowledge and community tips for Porthtowan
Porthtowan is a concentrated, powerful beach break in a deep valley on Cornwall's north coast. The beach is relatively short but the banks produce steep, punchy waves with real force. It faces west and receives full Atlantic swell. When the banks align, Porthtowan produces hollow barrels that rival Croyde for intensity. The setting is dramatic, with old mine workings on the cliffs and a pub literally on the beach.
Best on low to mid tide with a solid westerly groundswell and easterly offshore wind. The steep sand gradient creates hollow waves at the 4-8ft range. Above that it starts to close out across the bay. Works September through May. Even smaller swells produce fun, punchy waves here due to the steep banks.
The main peak shifts but generally forms in the centre of the relatively short beach. The take-off is steep and fast, similar to Croyde but on a smaller scale. On bigger days the outside bank produces a defined peak with a longer ride. The inside shorebreak is heavy and not a place to linger.
Heavy shorebreak that slams onto shallow sand. The steep gradient means waves hit hard and held-down time is real, even in moderate surf. Rip currents form on bigger days. The cliffs at either end are close, limiting the surfable area. Rocks exposed at low tide on the edges. Not a spot to underestimate.
Car park at the top of the valley with a walk (5 minutes) down a steep road to the beach. The Blue Bar sits directly on the sand. Limited parking in summer. Basic facilities at beach level.
Busy on good days. The proximity to Redruth and Camborne means a solid local population of surfers. The short beach concentrates everyone into a small area. Weekends can see 20-30 people fighting for peaks. Dawn sessions or midweek offer more space. The local crew are skilled and know the banks intimately.
Porthtowan punches above its weight for a small beach. The hollow sections near the Blue Bar can produce genuine barrels on the right swell. Do not sit too close to the shorebreak as sets can catch you out. The pub on the beach (Blue Bar) is an institution and the terrace has a direct view of the surf. If Porthtowan is closing out, Chapel Porth next door might be more manageable.
Surf at Porthtowan
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Daily scores over the last 12 months at Porthtowan
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Porthtowan tend to be best between 06:00 to 09:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 40/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
View Best Time to Go →Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 31 days of logged conditions.
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